Portable air compressor

ABSTRACT

The portable air compressor ( 1 ) comprises an air pumping element ( 2 ), an electric motor for driving the pumping element ( 2 ), at least one tank ( 3 ) for storing the compressed air coming out of the pumping element ( 2 ), and a box-shaped container ( 5 ) for containing the pumping element ( 2 ), the electric motor and the tank ( 3 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable air compressor.

In recent years air compressors, in particular portable ones, have become very widespread and, whilst until not long ago they were used almost exclusively in a few professional limited sectors, today their use is increasingly widespread in the most diverse technical fields, for example construction or yards in general. In many countries, for example in North America or northern Europe, private detached or semi-detached homes are still mostly built from wood and the component parts are advantageously fixed to each other using nails fired from suitable guns powered with compressed air.

Therefore, the use of compressors in construction sites, both for buildings and ships or even other locations, first requires that the compressor and its accessories are easily transportable.

Thus, over the years many types of portable compressors have been made, which definitely proved effective thanks to the ease with which they can be transported to the place where they are used, although they are not without disadvantages.

A first disadvantage linked to the use of prior art portable compressors is the fact that they are not very compact and they have many parts directly exposed to knocks and bad weather, despite the fact that sometimes there are guards partly covering some components.

Another disadvantage of prior art portable compressors is that they do not usually have compartments for housing the accessories normally used or spare parts, thus obliging users to use additional containers, making the whole kit less easily transportable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has for an aim to provide a portable air compressor which is free of the above-mentioned disadvantages and which at the same time is inexpensive to make and practical and functional to use.

The technical features of the present invention, in accordance with the above aim, are clear from the content of the claims herein, in particular claim 1 and, preferably, from any of the claims directly or indirectly dependent on claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of the present invention are, moreover, more apparent in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the air compressor in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of the compressor of FIG. 1 in an open configuration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the compressor of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration for transportation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes as a whole a portable air compressor in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 2, the compressor 1 comprises an air pumping element 2 and an electric motor which are operatively connected to each other and two compressed air storage tanks 3, only one of which is visible in the accompanying drawings.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated, the electric motor is at least partly covered by a guard 4 designed to also convey the air for cooling the motor and the pumping element 2.

The compressor 1 comprises a cup-type box-shaped container 5, housing the pumping element 2, electric motor and tanks.

The box-shaped container 5 advantageously has a base 6 having a roughly rectangular shape, four vertical walls 5 a, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d extending from the base 6, and a closing lid 7, hinged by suitable hinges 8, on one 5 c of the vertical walls.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in both the vertical wall 5 c and in the base 6, the box-shaped container 5 has respective ventilation openings A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the compressor 1 comprises two separate compressed air dispensing outlets 9 a, 9 b, said outlets 9 a, 9 b emerging from respective holes made in the vertical wall 5 a of the box-shaped container 5. Next to the dispensing outlets 9 a, 9 b, on the same wall 5 a there emerge two manometers 10 a, 10 b which indicate the pressure value, respectively, of the air in the tanks 3 and the air exiting the outlets 9 a, 9 b, and a control knob 11 for a pressure reducer device.

The prior art pressure reducer device which is not described in further detail is designed to reduce the pressure value of the air exiting the tanks 3 so as to bring the pressure to a desired dispensing value.

The dispensing outlets 9 a, 9 b respectively form compressed air dispensing means.

The knob 11 forms means for regulating the pressure of the compressed air dispensed.

The lid 7 of the box-shaped container 5 is removable and can move between a first limit configuration in which it closes the box-shaped container 5, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a second, open configuration, illustrated in FIG. 2, in which it allows access to the pumping element 2, electric motor and tank 3.

There are two fastening elements 12 on the box-shaped container 5, for stably maintaining the lid 7 closed configuration.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, rotatably mounted on the box-shaped container 5, at its base 6, there are two wheels 13, only one of which is visible in the accompanying drawings, designed to make the compressor 1 easily transportable.

As FIG. 2 shows, inside the box-shaped container 5, the overall space occupied by the pumping element 2, the electric motor and the tanks 3 is such that it leaves a free space V designed to form a housing for compressor 1 accessory elements, for example, pneumatic tools, pneumatic hoses, etc.

Fixed on the inner face of the vertical wall 5 b of the box-shaped container 5 there is a bracket 14 for stably supporting a pneumatic tool 15, for example, a nail gun.

The bracket 14 forms supporting means for pneumatic tools.

Illustrated next to the gun 15 in FIG. 2 there is a wound up hose 16, housed in the space V.

Again with reference to the accompanying drawings, the compressor 1 comprises means for connection to the electricity network, therefore designed to allow power to be supplied to the electric motor which drives the pumping element 2. According to two possible embodiments, of which only the first is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the compressor 1 may indifferently comprise a cable 17 coming out of the box-shaped container 5 and fitted with a normal plug 18 at the end, or a socket, not illustrated, stably fixed to one of the vertical walls 5 a, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d of the box-shaped container 5 and designed to be connected to the electricity network by a suitable extension. With reference to the accompanying drawings, the compressor 1 comprises an extendable handle 19 having a “U” shape and therefore comprising two longitudinal sides which are parallel with each other and a central transversal side connecting the longitudinal sides and comprising a grip 20 forming a point where the user can grasp the compressor 1.

To transport the compressor 1 as illustrated in FIG. 3, advantageously with the lid 7 in the closed configuration, the user extends the handle 19 and lifts the compressor 1 by rotating it relative to the pivot formed by the axis of rotation of its wheels 13.

Once the site where the compressor 1 will be used has been reached, the user opens the lid 7 of the box-shaped container 5 to take out of it the accessories required, then makes the necessary connections with the compressed air dispensing outlet or outlets 9 a, 9 b as well as suitably regulating and checking the desired air pressure value.

The afore-mentioned connecting, checking and regulating operations may be carried out whether the lid 7 is in the open configuration or in the closed configuration.

In practice, thanks to the fact that it comprises the box-shaped container 5, the compressor 1 is absolutely protected both in a static condition, whether or not it is used, and in a transport condition, when its inner parts are absolutely protected against knocks or accidental falls.

Moreover, advantageously, as well as allowing it to be transported in the closed configuration with all of the advantages deriving from it, the compressor disclosed can operate in said closed configuration, significantly reducing the noise emitted to the outside and also being less exposed to the dust and dirt always present in working environments.

The invention described above is susceptible of industrial application and may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements. 

1). An air compressor comprising: an air pumping element (2), an electric motor for driving the pumping element (2), at least one tank (3) for storing the compressed air coming out of the pumping element (2), wherein the pumping element (2), the electric motor and the tank (3) are housed in a box-shaped container (5) and wherein it comprises dispensing means (9 a, 9 b) and regulating means (11) for the compressed air, said means (9 a, 9 b, 11) emerging from a wall (5 a) of the box-shaped container (5). 2). The air compressor according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a removable lid (7) for the box-shaped container (5). 3). The air compressor according to claim 2, wherein the lid (7) can move between a first limit configuration in which it closes the box-shaped container (5) and a second, open configuration in which it allows access to the pumping element (2), the electric motor and the tank (3). 4). The air compressor according to claim 1, wherein it comprises at least two wheels (13) for transporting the compressor, the wheels (13) being rotatably connected to the box-shaped container (5). 5). The air compressor according to claim 1, wherein inside the box-shaped container (5) there is a space (V) not occupied by the pumping element (2), electric motor and tank (3), said space (V) being designed to hold compressor accessories (15, 16). 6). The air compressor according to claim 5, wherein the box-shaped container (5) comprises, inside the space (V), means for supporting at least one pneumatic tool (15). 7). The air compressor according to claim 6, wherein the supporting means comprise a bracket (14) connected to a vertical wall (5 b) of the box-shaped container (5). 8). The air compressor according to claim 1, wherein the box-shaped container (5) has ventilation openings (A) in at least one of its walls (5 d, 6). 9). The air compressor according to claim 1, wherein it comprises means for connection to the electricity network, said means comprising at least one cable (17) equipped with a plug (18) coming out of the box-shaped container (5). 10). The air compressor according to claim 1, wherein it comprises means for connection to the electrical network, said means comprising an electrical socket fixed on a wall (5 a, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d) of the box-shaped container (5) and facing towards the outside of the container (5). 